Brazil is renowned for its radiant beaches, the Amazon rainforest and for fielding the most successful men's soccer team in World Cup history.
But it's also known for its cuisine.
As the largest country in South America, Brazil has a reputation around the world for its steakhouses and barbecue and now Cambridge will be getting the region's first taste of Brazil.
When Thais and Silvio Prado came to Canada nearly a decade ago they noticed a lack of Brazilian culture and goods in Waterloo region.
"We always had to go to like Toronto to get anything Brazilian, but there are so many of us here in the region and it seemed like a missed opportunity," said Thais.
During the pandemic, the couple opened up an online store and delivery service that had different kinds of Brazilian products, snacks and other items.
Their service was a hit and quickly gained customers from around the region and Guelph.
"When we found that this was a viable option, we got our first location in Kitchener because we wanted to be able to serve hot food and be a place in the community for people to gather," said Silvio.
For the past three years, the Prado family has operated Seu Mercado in Kitchener, offering the same items as their online store, but expanding to serve some hot food, coffee and other Brazilian delicacies.
The store continued to grow and their customers kept telling them they should offer more hot meals and add a full menu.
"This was something that we just didn't have the capacity to do at the other store," said Silvio. "We needed a bigger space and then we found the one here in Hespeler."
Located in the heart of Hespeler Village in the former Hespeler Hotel on Queen Street, the family took a leap and completely renovated the space to accommodate a sit-down restaurant, bar and activity room in the back.
"Brazilian steakhouses are everywhere and we really wanted to offer something different and go deeper into what cuisine each state in Brazil eats and bring some of the most amazing food in the world to Cambridge," added Silvio.
The name of the restaurant, Bossa Nova, is a nod to the popular music genre that originated from the South American country in the 1950s. It is meant to signify that this is a place for Brazilians to feel at home and connect those with their community.
Staple dishes like feijoada and farofa which is a black bean dish over rice with toasted cassava are vital to Brazilian cuisine and Bossa Nova will be one of the only places in the region that serves it.
"Of course, we will have steak and meat, but we want to show all of the other amazing things as well," said Thais.
Brazilian pizza is another item the Prados are excited to put on the menu; it differs from North American pizza by the toppings put on it. Toppings like corn, broccoli and hard-boiled eggs are just a few of the common differences.
Another reason for opening Bossa Nova is the opportunity for it to be a beacon for Brazilians not only in Waterloo region, but across Ontario.
"This will be a place for everyone to come to. We have people from Windsor and London that come to our store now, so we really hope to be a place for all to gather and share our culture with," said Silvio.
Having their first child here in Canada, and just welcoming their second two months ago, the couple wants to create a space where their children can grow up around Brazilian culture and eat the amazing food they enjoyed growing up.
Silvio is also a big soccer fan and hopes to host watch parties with the local community so they can all cheer on their favourite teams and players during the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The restaurant plans to open in the next few weeks with an open house on Easter Weekend during the Hespeler Easter Egg Hunt.
"We hope everyone will come out and see what we have to offer and see our beautiful space," said Thais. "This is a big jump for us, but the community has supported us before and we want to give back here in Cambridge."
